Nanofiber manufacturing device and head used for same

ABSTRACT

A nozzle head 20 of an apparatus for producing nanofibers 1 comprises a raw material discharge surface 22 on which a raw material flow passage 25 for discharging a liquid raw material is arranged, and a gas discharge surface 23 which is arranged with an angle α (0&lt;α≤90°) toward the raw material discharge surface 22 and on which a gas flow passage 26 for ejecting gas is arranged. The raw material flow passage 25 is orthogonal to the raw material discharge surface 22, the gas flow passage 26 is orthogonal to the gas discharge surface 23, and the raw material flow passage 25 and the gas flow passage 26 are arranged so that the liquid raw material discharged from the raw material flow passage 25 meets gas ejected from the gas flow passage 26.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing nanofibersand a nozzle head used for the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional apparatus for producing nonwoven fabrics is disclosed inPatent Document 1. This apparatus for producing nonwoven fabricscomprises, as shown in FIG. 40, an extruder 915 for extruding moltenresin, a blower 916 and a heating unit 917 for heating an air from theblower 916. The apparatus for producing nonwoven fabrics comprises amelt blow unit 911 for filamentously spinning the molten resin from theextruder 915, and for spraying hot blast provided from the heating unit917 to the filamentous molten resin.

This melt blow unit 911 is provided a resin passage 912 for flowing themolten resin, and hot blast passages 913 a and 913 b. These hot blastpassages 913 a and 913 b are provided on each side of the resin passage912 with inclination toward the resin passage 912. The hot blast fromthe hot blast passages 913 a and 913 b is sprayed to the molten resinspun from the resin passage 912 thereby.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP2010-185153A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In the above-mentioned apparatus for producing nonwoven fabrics,however, the hot blast passages 913 a and 913 b of the hot blast passage913 is formed with inclination toward a lower surface 911 a. When thehot blast passages 913 a and 913 b are formed by a drill, the drill isobliquely contacted the lower surface 911 a. Therefore, a top of thedrill may slip on the lower surface 911 a, and it is difficult to formthe hot blast passages 913 a and 913 b precisely. In order to ensure theprecision, it has been necessary to use electrochemical machining havinga high cost.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems,and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forproducing nanofibers and a nozzle head use for the same which canmanufacture by drilling and efficiently carry molten resin on a gasflow.

Means for Solving the Problems

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus forproducing nanofibers comprising a raw material discharge surface onwhich a raw material flow passage for discharging a liquid raw materialis arranged, and a gas discharge surface which is arranged with an angleα (0<α≤90°) toward said raw material discharge surface and on which agas flow passage for ejecting gas is arranged, wherein said raw materialflow passage is orthogonal to said raw material discharge surface, saidgas flow passage is orthogonal to said gas discharge surface, and saidraw material flow passage and said gas flow passage are arranged so thatsaid liquid raw material discharged from said raw material flow passagemeets gas ejected from said gas flow passage.

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus forproducing nanofibers comprising a raw material discharge surface onwhich a raw material flow passage for discharging a liquid raw materialis arranged, a gas discharge surface which is arranged downwardly fromsaid raw material discharge surface and on which a gas flow passage forejecting gas is arranged, a connecting surface which is connected withsaid raw material discharge surface and said gas discharge surface, andis arranged with an angle β(0≤β<90°) toward said raw material dischargesurface, wherein said raw material flow passage is orthogonal to saidraw material discharge surface, said gas flow passage is orthogonal tosaid gas discharge surface, an opening of said gas flow passage contactswith said connecting surface, and said raw material flow passage andsaid gas flow passage are arranged so that said liquid raw materialdischarged from said raw material flow passage reaches to the opening ofsaid gas flow passage along said connecting surface.

According to the present invention, there is provided a nozzle head usedfor an apparatus for producing nanofibers comprising: a raw materialdischarge surface on which a raw material flow passage for discharging aliquid raw material is arranged, and a gas discharge surface which isarranged with an angle α (0<α≤90°) toward said raw material dischargesurface and on which a gas flow passage for ejecting gas is arranged,wherein said raw material flow passage is orthogonal to said rawmaterial discharge surface, said gas flow passage is orthogonal to saidgas discharge surface, and said raw material flow passage and said gasflow passage are arranged so that said liquid raw material dischargedfrom said raw material flow passage meets gas ejected from said gas flowpassage.

According to the present invention, there is provided a nozzle head usedfor an apparatus for producing nanofibers comprising: a raw materialdischarge surface on which a raw material flow passage for discharging aliquid raw material is arranged, a gas discharge surface which isarranged downwardly from said raw material discharge surface, and onwhich a gas flow passage for ejecting gas is arranged, a connectingsurface which is connected with said raw material discharge surface andsaid gas discharge surface, and is arranged with an angle β (0≤β90°)toward said raw material discharge surface, wherein said raw materialflow passage is orthogonal to said raw material discharge surface, saidgas flow passage is orthogonal to said gas discharge surface, an openingof said gas flow passage contacts with said connecting surface, and saidraw material flow passage and said gas flow passage are arranged so thatsaid liquid raw material discharged from said raw material flow passagereaches to the opening of said gas flow passage along said connectingsurface.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, a raw material flow passage isformed so as to be orthogonal to a raw material discharge surface, and agas flow passage is formed so as to be orthogonal to a gas dischargesurface. Therefore, the raw material flow passage is formed on the rawmaterial discharge surface by drilling and the gas flow passage isformed on the gas discharge surface. It becomes possible to joindirectly or indirectly with an angle the liquid raw material dischargedfrom the raw material flow passage to a gas flow ejected from the gasflow passage through a connecting surface connected to the raw materialdischarge surface and the gas discharge surface. It can be achieved tomanufacture precisely by drilling and to carry efficiently the liquidraw material on the gas flow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an entire structure of an apparatus for producingnanofibers according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a nozzle head of the apparatus forproducing nanofibers of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a variation 1 ofthe nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a variation 2 ofthe nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a variation 3 ofthe nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a variation 4 ofthe nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a variation 5 ofthe nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a variation 6 ofthe nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a variation 7of the nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a structure of a variation 8 ofthe nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation 8of the nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a variation 9 of the nozzle headof FIG. 2.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation 9of the nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a variation 10 of the nozzle headof FIG. 2.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation10 of the nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a variation 11 of the nozzle headof FIG. 2.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation11 of the nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a variation 12 of the nozzle headof FIG. 2.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation12 of the nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation12 of the nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a variation 13 of the nozzle headof FIG. 2.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation13 of the nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation13 of the nozzle head of FIG. 2.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a variation 14 of the nozzle headof FIG. 2.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing a variation 15 of the nozzle headof FIG. 2.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing the nozzle head of theapparatus for producing nanofibers according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing the apparatus for producingnanofibers according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a cross sectional view showing the apparatus for producingnanofibers of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing the nozzle head of theapparatus for producing nanofibers of FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation 1of the nozzle head of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation 2of the nozzle head of FIG. 30.

FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation 3of the nozzle head of FIG. 30.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation 4of the nozzle head of FIG. 30.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation 5of the nozzle head of FIG. 30.

FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation 6of the nozzle head of FIG. 30.

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation 7of the nozzle head of FIG. 30.

FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of the variation 8of the nozzle head of FIG. 30.

FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a basic concept of thepresent invention.

FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a conventionalapparatus for producing nonwoven fabrics.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be describedhereinafter. The present invention is easily applicable to a structureother than the description of embodiments of the present inventionwithin a scope not inconsistent with an object of the invention.

According to the present invention, nanofibers are formed by supplying aliquid raw material to gas ejected under relatively high pressure. Inthe description, a term “gas” without specifying composition means gasesconsisting of any composition and a molecular structure. Additionally,in the description, a term “raw material” means all of materialsapplicable for forming the nanofibers. In the embodiments hereinafter,an explanation will be made for an example using synthetic resin as the“raw material”, but not limited to, various kinds of compositionmaterial will be usable.

A term “liquid raw material” in the description does not limit propertyof the material to liquid. The “liquid raw material”, for example,includes “solvent” which is prepared by dissolving in advance a solidraw material or a liquid raw material as a solute in a predeterminedsolvent so that a predetermined concentration is obtained. Additionally,“liquid raw material” also includes “molten raw material” which thesolid raw material is molten. In short, the “liquid raw material” of thepresent invention needs property having viscosity enough to supply(eject, discharge) “raw material” from supply holes (ejection holes,discharge holes), and the “raw material” having such liquid property isdescribed as “liquid raw material” in the present invention.

A basic concept of the present invention is, as shown in (I) FIG. 39(a)is to comprise a raw material discharge surface 22, a gas dischargesurface 23, a raw material flow passage 24 for discharging the liquidraw material which is formed so as to be orthogonal to the raw materialdischarge surface 22, and a gas flow passage 26 for discharging the gaswhich is formed so as to be orthogonal to the gas discharge surface 23.The raw material discharge surface 22 and the gas discharge surface 23are arranged with an angle α (0<α≤90°), and an axis line P of the rawmaterial flow passage 25 and an axis line Q of the gas flow passage 26are intersected with the angle α.

Additionally, as shown in (II) FIG. 39 (b), a basic concept of thepresent invention is to comprise the raw material discharge surface 22,the gas discharge surface 23, the raw material flow passage 25 which isformed so as to be orthogonal to the raw material discharge surface 22and from which the liquid raw material is discharged, the gas flowpassage 26 which is formed so as to be orthogonal to the gas dischargesurface 23 and from which the gas is discharged, and a connectingsurface 24 connected with the raw material discharge surface 22 and thegas discharge surface 23. The gas discharge surface 23 and theconnecting surface 24 are arranged with an angle β (0≤β<90°), and asurface direction R of the connecting surface 24 and the axis line Q ofthe gas flow passage 26 are intersected with the angle α (α=90°−β).

Accordingly, the liquid raw material discharged from the raw materialflow passage 25 is directly as shown in FIG. 39(a), or indirectly asshown in FIG. 39(b) meets the gas flow discharged from the gas flowpassage 26 with the angle α through the connecting surface 24 connectedwith the raw material discharge surface 22 and the gas discharge surface23.

In FIG. 39(a), positional relationship of each component is as follows.If the gas discharge surface 23 which the gas flow passage 26 is formedis considered as a reference position, “distance a” represents adistance to the raw material flow passage 25, and “distance b”represents a distance to an meeting point of the liquid raw materialfrom the raw material flow passage 25. “Distance c” represents anopening diameter of the gas flow passage 26, and “distance d” representsa distance orthogonal to the axis line Q between the raw material flowpassage 25 and the gas flow passage 26. The same can be said about FIG.39(b) (provided that a=0).

Herein, the axis line P of the raw material flow passage 25 has an angleα against the axis line Q of the gas flow passage 26. The raw materialsupply tangent angle α is obtained from the following Equation

tan α=d/(b−a)

wherein

0≤θ<90°

The raw material supply tangent angle α should be determined by thedistance “a”, the distance “b”, and the distance “d”, and moreover,should be determined by relation among the opening diameter “c” of thehigh-pressure gas, pressure and temperature of the ejected gas the gasflow passage 26.

Regarding an arrangement condition of the raw material flow passage 25and the gas flow passage 26, it is also capable of forming nanofibershaving an ununiformed diameter or fiber length by changing the number ofpassages, an arrangement interval, an arrangement distance (distance “a”from the gas ejection hole), an arrangement angle (angle α), and adiameter of the flow passage. According to types of the producednanofibers, the arrangement condition of the raw material flow passage25 and the gas flow passage 26 may be appropriately selected andchanged.

First Embodiment

Hereinafter, an apparatus for producing nanofibers according to a firstembodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIGS.1 to 26.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire structure of the apparatus forproducing nanofibers according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention. (a) is a side view, and (b) is a plan view. FIG. 2 is aperspective view showing a nozzle head of the apparatus for producingnanofibers of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing thenozzle head of the first embodiment. (a) is a front view, (b) is a crosssectional view taken along the line A-A′, and (c) is a cross sectionalview taken along the line B-B′. FIGS. 4 to 26 show explanatory diagramsof structures of variations 1 to 15 of the nozzle head showing a basicstructure in FIG. 2 and in each figure, show a perspective view(including an exploded perspective view), or a front view and a crosssectional view as show in FIGS. 2 and 3. Hereinafter, terms representing“front, back, left, right, up and down” may be used, which show arelative positional relationship of each component, not an absoluterelationship unless otherwise explicitly. In each figure, a componenthaving same function has a same reference number and the detailedexplanation will be omitted.

The apparatus for producing nanofibers 1 of the first embodiment uses asolvent which is prepared by dissolving in advance a solid raw materialor a liquid raw material as a solute in a predetermined solvent so thata predetermined concentration is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus for producing nanofibers 1 comprises arectangular flat-shaped base 10, a solvent storage 11 which is disposedon the base 10 and has function for extruding the solvent with thepredetermined pressure, a hose 12 for supplying the solvent from thesolvent storage 12 to a nozzle head 20 described later, a gas ejectionunit 13 which is disposed on the base 10 and ejects high-pressure gasand the nozzle head 20 connected to a top of the gas ejection unit 13.When temperature control is provided to the solvent in accordance withmanufacturing conditions, a temperature control function (notillustrated), such as a heater may be provided in each of the solventstorage 11, the hose 12 and the nozzle head 20. In the presentembodiments, the solvent storage 11, the hose 12 and the nozzle head 20which are made of metal are used, however, they may be made of resin,glass and other materials in accordance with types of the solvent andcondition of nanofiber products.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the nozzle head 20 has an approximatelyrectangular shape, and comprises a front surface 21 facing in a frontside (left side of FIG. 1), a raw material discharge surface 22, and agas discharge surface 23 which are connected in order in a downwarddirection. The front surface 21 and the gas discharge surface 23 arearranged in parallel each other, and the gas discharge surface 23 isarranged backwardly with a distance t away from the front surface 21.The raw material discharge surface 22 and the gas discharge surface 23are arranged with an angle of α (0<α≤90°), and the raw materialdischarge surface 22 faces an oblique downward direction. The nozzlehead 20 is provided with a back surface 27 which is parallel with thefront surface 21 and faces backwardly.

The nozzle head 20 comprises the raw material flow passage 25 orthogonalto the raw material discharge surface 22, and the gas flow passage 26orthogonal to the gas discharge surface 23. The raw material flowpassage 25 is communicated with a raw material supply passage 28orthogonal to the back surface 27 in the nozzle head 20. The gas flowpassage 26 is provided so as to linearly penetrate the gas dischargesurface 23 and the back surface 27.

In the present embodiments, the raw material flow passage 25 has acylindrical space (every cross sectional orthogonal to the axis line hasthe same circular shape), and the gas flow passage 26 also has thecylindrical space. The raw material discharge surface 22 has a width (alength in up and down direction of FIG. 3) larger than a diameter of theraw material flow passage 25 (about twice of the diameter), and the rawmaterial flow passage 25 is arranged at a center area in a widthdirection. The gas flow passage 26 is arranged with an interval from theraw material discharge surface 22. An axis line P of the raw materialflow passage 25 and an axis line Q of the gas flow passage 26 areprovided so as to be on a plane and the axis line P and the axis line Qare intersected at a point in front of the nozzle head 20 with an angleα.

An opening on the back surface 27 of the raw material supply passage 28is connected with a hose 12, and a solvent provided from a solventstorage 11 is passed through the hose 12, the raw material supplypassage 28 and the raw material flow passage 25, and discharged from theopening of the raw material flow passage 25 on the raw materialdischarge surface 22.

The opening on the back surface 27 of the gas flow passage 26 isconnected with the gas ejection unit 13, and high-pressure gas suppliedfrom the gas ejection unit 13 is passed through the gas flow passage 26and discharged from the opening of the gas flow passage 26 on the gasdischarge surface 23.

The such structure is only an example, and if there are provided the rawmaterial flow passage 25 and the gas flow passage 26 orthogonal to theraw material discharge surface 22 and the gas discharge surface 23 whichare arranged with an angle α (0<α≤90°), respectively, the stricture maybe optional within a purpose of the present invention. In the presentembodiment, the nozzle head 20 is directly connected with the hose 12and the gas ejection unit 13. For example, however, a manifold blockconnected with the hose 12 and the gas ejection unit 13 may be providedon a side of the back surface 27 of the nozzle head 20. In suchstructure, the nozzle head 20 may be detachable to the manifold block,and the raw material and gas may be supplied to the nozzle head 20 fromthe hose 12 and the gas ejection unit 13 through the manifold block.

A description will be made of operation of the apparatus for producingnanofibers 1 and the nozzle head 20 according the present embodiments.The apparatus for producing nanofibers 1 is supplied with the solventfrom the solvent storage 11 and discharges from the opening of the rawmaterial flow passage 25 on the raw material discharge surface 22. Theapparatus for producing nanofibers 1 is supplied with the high-pressuregas from the gas ejection unit 13 and ejects the same from the openingof the gas flow passage 26 on the gas discharge surface 23. The solventdischarged from the raw material flow passage 25 meets the gas flowejected from the gas flow passage 26 with the angle α and is carried outin the front direction while being elongated, so that the nanofibers aremanufactured.

According to the apparatus for producing nanofibers 1 and the nozzlehead 20 of the above-mentioned embodiment, the raw material flow passage25 is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the raw material dischargesurface 22, and the gas flow passage 26 is arranged so as to beorthogonal to the gas discharge surface 23. Thereby, by drilling, theraw material flow passage 25 can be formed on the raw material dischargesurface 22, and the gas flow passage 26 can be formed on the gasdischarge surface 23. The solvent discharged from the raw material flowpassage 25 directly meets the gas flow ejected from the gas flow passage26 with the angle α.

It can be achieved to manufacture precisely by drilling and to carryefficiently the solvent on the gas flow.

The apparatus for producing nanofibers 1 of the present embodiment iscapable of establishing the structure without using a complicateddevice, such as a heating cylinder, a motor, a screw and so on becausethe solvent which is prepared by dissolving the raw material in thesolvent. Therefore, size of the apparatus becomes small and mountingspace is saved. The structure of the apparatus becomes compact, so thatit may be achieved to realize a portable the apparatus for producingnanofiber. The portable-type apparatus for producing nanofibers isconfigured to spray nanofibers toward a place where the nanofibersshould be adhered and the nanofibers are formed. Use of the nanofibersmay be expanded by using such portable-type apparatus.

(Variation 1 of the First Embodiment)

FIG. 4 shows a variation 1 of the nozzle head 20 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 1 (hereinafter referred to as a basicstructure of the nozzle head 20). The nozzle head 20A of the variation 1is configured so that a width of the raw material discharge surface 22(a length in an up and down direction of FIG. 4) becomes same as adiameter of the raw material flow passage 25. Other structure of thenozzle head 20A of the variation 1 is the same as a basic structure ofthe nozzle head 20.

Variation 2 of the First Embodiment

FIG. 5 shows a variation 2 of the nozzle head 20 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 1. The nozzle head 20B of thevariation 2 is configured so that a width of the raw material dischargesurface 22 (a length in an up and down direction of FIG. 5) is largerthan the diameter of the raw material flow passage 25 (about three timesof the diameter), and a part of the gas flow passage 26 is arranged soas to contact with the raw material discharge surface 22. Otherstructure of the nozzle head 20B of the variation 2 is the same as thebasic structure of the nozzle head 20.

Variation 3 of the First Embodiment

FIG. 6 shows a variation 3 of the nozzle head 20 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 1. The nozzle head 20C of thevariation 3 is configured so that a width of the raw material dischargesurface 22 (a length in an up and down direction of FIG. 6) becomes sameas the diameter of the raw material flow passage 25, and a part of thegas flow passage 26 is arranged so as to contact with the raw materialdischarge surface 22. Thereby, the raw material flow passage 25 and thegas flow passage 26 are contact with each other. Other structure of thenozzle head 20C of the variation 3 is the same as the basic structure ofthe nozzle head 20.

Variation 4 of the First Embodiment

FIG. 7 shows a variation 4 of the nozzle head 20 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 1. The nozzle head 20D of thevariation 4 is configured so that the raw material flow passage 25 has aspace in a square column shape which a cross section is rectangular.Other structure of the nozzle head 20D of the variation 4 is the same asthe basic structure of the nozzle head 20.

Variation 5 of the First Embodiment

FIG. 8 shows a variation 5 of the nozzle head 20 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 1. The nozzle head 20E of thevariation 5 is configured so that the gas flow passage 26 has a space ina square column shape which a cross section is rectangular. Otherstructure of the nozzle head 20E of the variation 5 is the same as thebasic structure of the nozzle head 20.

Variation 6 of the First Embodiment

FIG. 9 shows a variation 6 of the nozzle head 20 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 1. The nozzle head 20F of thevariation 6 is configured so that the raw material flow passage 25 has aspace in a square column shape which a cross section is rectangular andthe gas flow passage 26 also has a space in a square column shape whicha cross section is rectangular. Other structure of the nozzle head 20Fof the variation 6 is the same as the basic structure of the nozzle head20.

(Variation 7 of the First Embodiment)

FIG. 10 shows a variation 7 of the nozzle head 20 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 1. The nozzle head 20G of thevariation 7 is configured so that a shape is rectangular parallelepiped,the front surface 21 is not provided at a front side of the nozzle head20, and the gas discharge surface 23 facing the front side (a front sideof a paper of FIG. 10(a), left side of (b) and (c)) is provided at theentire front side. The gas flow passage 26 is arranged so as to beorthogonal to the gas discharge surface 23, and the raw materialdischarge surface 22 arranged at the angle α toward the gas dischargesurface 23 in the gas flow passage 26. The gas flow passage 26 has aspace of column by cutting away a part of a cylinder taken along achord. The nozzle head 20G of the variation 7 is configured so that awidth of the raw material discharge surface 22 (a length in an up anddown direction of FIG. 10(a)) becomes same as the diameter of the rawmaterial flow passage 25. Other structure of the nozzle head 20G of thevariation 7 is the same as the basic structure of the nozzle head 20.

(Variation 8 of the First Embodiment)

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a variation 8 of the nozzle head 20 of theabove-mentioned apparatus for producing nanofibers 1. In a nozzle head20H of the variation 8, there are shown as a separate body a portion ofthe front surface 21, the raw material discharge surface 22 (a firstportion 20 a), and another portion of the gas discharge surface 23 (asecond portion 20 b). These two portions may be connected detachablywith a connection means, such as a belt and a screw not illustrated.

The first portion 20 a of the nozzle head 20H of the variation 8 is arectangular parallelepiped which a one side is chamfered, the frontsurface 21 and the raw material discharge surface 22 (corresponding tothe chamfered portion) are connected in order in the downward direction,and the raw material flow passage 25 is provided orthogonally to the rawmaterial discharge surface 22. The second portion 20 b is a rectangularparallelepiped, the gas discharge surface 23 is provided at the entirefront surface, and the gas flow passage 26 is provided orthogonally tothe gas discharge surface 23. When the first portion 20 a and the secondportion 20 b are connected, the raw material discharge surface 22 andthe gas discharge surface 23 are arranged with the angle α. The nozzlehead 20H of the variation 8 has a structure which the first portion 20 aand the second portion 20 b are detachable, and has the same structureof the basic structure of the nozzle head 20 when these portions are notconnected.

(Variation 9 of the First Embodiment)

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a variation 9 of the nozzle head 20 of theabove-mentioned apparatus for producing nanofibers 1. In a nozzle head20H of the variation 9, the second portion 20 b has the same structureas that of the nozzle head 20H of the variation 8, the raw materialdischarge surface 22 and the gas discharge surface 23 are made an angleα′ when the first portion 20 a and the second portion 20 b are connectedso as to have a different angle from the nozzle head 20H of thevariation 8 (α′≠α, 0<α′≤90°). As the variations 8 and 9, an intersectingangle of the axis line P of the raw material flow passage 25 and theaxis line Q of the gas flow passage 26 can be easily changed by varyingcombination of the first portion 20 a and the second portion 20 b if aplurality of the first portion 20 a and the second portion 20 b areprepared which have different connection angles of the raw materialdischarge surface 22 and the gas discharge surface 23. Furthermore, anintersecting angle of the axis line P and the axis line Q can be easilychanged if the first portion 20 a is shifted toward the second portion20 b in the front and back direction. In this case, a spacer to whichthe raw material or the gas flow passage are provided may be disposed ata back side of the first portion 20 a or the second portion 20 b.

(Variation 10 of the First Embodiment)

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a variation 9 of the nozzle head 20 of theabove-mentioned apparatus for producing nanofibers 1. A nozzle head 20Jof the variation 9 has the first portion 20 a and the second portion 20b as a separate body in a similar manner as the nozzle head 20H of thevariation 8. These two portions may be connected detachably with aconnection means, such as a belt and a screw not illustrated.

The first portion 20 a of the nozzle head 20J of the variation 10 isconfigured so that a shape is rectangular parallelepiped, the frontsurface 21 is provided at the entire front surface thereof for facingthe front side (a front side of a paper of FIG. 16(a), left side of (b)and (c)), the raw material discharge surface 22 is provided at thebottom surface facing downwardly, and the raw material flow passage 25are arranged so as to be orthogonal to the raw material dischargesurface 22. The second portion 20 b has a similar structure as thenozzle head 20H of the variation 8 and has a rectangular parallelepipedshape. The gas discharge surface 23 is provided at the front surface andhas the gas flow passage 26 orthogonal to the gas discharge surface 23.In the nozzle head 20J of the variation 10, the raw material dischargesurface 22 and the gas discharge surface 23 are arrange orthogonally(α=90°) when the first portion 20 a and the second portion 20 b areconnected.

(Variation 11 of the First Embodiment)

FIGS. 17 and 18 show a variation 11 of the nozzle head 20 of theabove-mentioned apparatus for producing nanofibers 1. FIG. 17(a) is anexploded perspective view showing the nozzle head 20K of the variation11, and (b) is a perspective view showing an unprocessed component Kbefore cutting away the first portions 20 a of the nozzle head 20A. Thenozzle head 20K of the variation 11 comprises a raw material dischargepipe 29 which projects from the raw material discharge surface 22 andthe raw material flow passage 25 is arranged inside thereof. Otherstructure of the nozzle head 20K of the variation 11 is the same as thenozzle head 20H of the variation 8. Additionally, in a similar manner asthe discharge pipe 29, another discharge pipe (not illustrated) may bearranged which projects from the gas discharge surface 23 and the gasflow passage 26 is arranged inside thereof.

(Variation 12 of the First Embodiment)

FIGS. 19 and 20 show a variation 12 of the nozzle head 20 of theabove-mentioned apparatus for producing nanofibers 1. A nozzle head 20Lof the variation 12 is provided with a concave groove 31 having arectangular cross section on a top surface of the second portion 20 binstead of the gas flow passage 26 having the cylindrical space of thenozzle head 20H of the variation 8. The nozzle head 20L of the variation12 has the gas flow passage 26 having the space in a square column shapewhich a cross section is rectangular by means of one surface of thefirst portion 20 a contacting with the second portion 20 b and theconcave groove 31 of the second portion 20 b when the first portion 20 aand the second portion 20 b are connected. Other structure of the nozzlehead 20L of the variation 12 is the same as the nozzle head 20H of thevariation 8. As shown in FIG. 21, the first portion 20 a and the secondportion 20 b may be shifted in the front and back direction so that thefront surface 21 and the gas discharge surface 23 are included on thesame plane.

(Variation 13 of the First Embodiment)

FIGS. 22 and 23 show a variation 13 of the nozzle head 20 of theabove-mentioned apparatus for producing nanofibers 1. A nozzle head 20Mof the variation 13 is provided with a concave groove 31 having arectangular cross section on a top surface of the second portion 20 binstead of the gas flow passage 26 having the cylindrical space of thenozzle head 20J of the variation 10. The nozzle head 20M of thevariation 13 has the gas flow passage 26 having the space in a squarecolumn shape which a cross section is rectangular formed by one surfaceof the first portion 20 a contacting with the second portion 20 b andthe concave groove 31 of the second portion 20 b when the first portion20 a and the second portion 20 b are connected. Other structure of thenozzle head 20M of the variation 13 is the same as the nozzle head 20Jof the variation 10. As shown in FIG. 24, the first portion 20 a and thesecond portion 20 b may be shifted in the front and back direction sothat the front surface 21 and the gas discharge surface 23 are includedon the same plane.

(Variation 14 of the First Embodiment)

FIG. 25 shows a variation 14 of the nozzle head 20 of theabove-mentioned apparatus for producing nanofibers 1. A nozzle head 20Sof the variation 14 comprises two the raw material flow passages 25, 25,and the gas flow passage 26 arranged between these two the raw materialflow passages 25, 25. In other words, the nozzle head 20S of thevariation 14 comprises a set of flow passages including two the rawmaterial flow passages 25, 25 and the gas flow passage 26. The nozzlehead 20S of the variation 14 comprises two the raw material dischargesurfaces 22, 22 to which the gas discharge surface 23 is inserted. Theraw material discharge surfaces 22, 22 and the gas discharge surface 23are arranged with the angle α (0<α≤90°). The nozzle head 20S of thevariation 14 comprises two the raw material flow passages 25, 25orthogonal to the raw material discharge surfaces 22, 22, respectively,and the gas flow passage 26 orthogonal to the gas discharge surface 23.The nozzle head 20S of the variation 14, in a similar manner of theapparatus for producing nanofibers 1, the axis line P, P (notillustrated) of the raw material flow passages 25, 25 and the axis lineQ of the gas flow passage 26 are intersected at a point in front of thenozzle head 20S with an angle α. Thereby, the solvent discharged fromthe two raw material flow passages 25, 25 meets the gas flow ejectedfrom the gas flow passage 26 with the angle α and is carried out in thefront direction while being elongated. In the present structure,different kinds of raw materials may be discharged from these two rawmaterial flow passages 25, 25, respectively. Therefore, two differentkinds of fibers can be manufactured and mixed with these two differentkinds of raw materials by using the same gas.

(Variation 15 of the First Embodiment)

FIG. 26 shows a variation 15 of the nozzle head 20 of theabove-mentioned apparatus for producing nanofibers 1. A nozzle head 20Tof the variation 15 comprises two the raw material flow passages 25, 25,and two the gas flow passages 26, 26. In other words, the nozzle head20S of the variation 14 comprises a set of flow passages including twothe raw material flow passages 25, 25 and the gas flow passage 26. Thenozzle head 20S of the variation 14 comprises a plurality of (two) setsof flow passages each including one raw material flow passage 25 and onegas flow passage 26. The nozzle head 20T of the variation 15 comprisestwo first portions 20 a, 20 a and the second portions 20 b inserted intothe two first portions 20 a, 20 a. The first portions 20 a, 20 a has thesame structure as the first portion 20 a of the above-mentionedvariation 8. The second portion 20 b has a rectangular parallelepipedshape and is provided the concave grooves 31, 31 on the top surface anda lower surface. The nozzle head 20T of the variation 15 has the gasflow passages 26, 26 having the space in a square column shape which across section is rectangular formed by one surfaces of the firstportions 20 a, 20 a contacting with the second portion 20 b and theconcave grooves 31, 31 of the second portion 20 b when the firstportions 20 a, 20 a and the second portion 20 b are connected. Therelationship between the raw material flow passage 25 and the gas flowpassage 26 of the nozzle head 20T of the variation 15 is the same therelationship between the raw material flow passage 25 and the gas flowpassage 26 of the nozzle head 20L of the variation 12. In the presentstructure, different kinds of raw materials may be discharged from thesetwo raw material flow passages 25, 25, and different kinds of gas may beejected from the gas flow passages 26, 26. Therefore, two differentkinds of fibers can be manufactured at the same time and mixed by usingthese two different liquid raw materials and two different gases.

In Table 1, an outline of the basic structure and the structures of thevariations 1 to 15 of the nozzle head 20 according to the Embodiment 1.

TABLE 1 Shape of 1st Raw material Shape of gas Difference of Variationfrom Embodiment flow passage flow passage basic structure FIGURE BasicCylindrical Cylindrical — FIG. 2, 3 Structure Variation 1 CylindricalCylindrical Width of raw material discharge surface is FIG. 4 same asdiameter of raw material flow passage Variation 2 CylindricalCylindrical Gas flow passage contacts with raw FIG. 5 material dischargesurface Variation 3 Cylindrical Cylindrical Raw material flow passagecontacts with FIG. 6 gas flow passage Variation 4 Square columnCylindrical Raw material flow passage is formed in FIG. 7 shape squarecolumn shape Variation 5 Cylindrical Square column Gas flow passage isformed in square FIG. 8 shape column shape Variation 6 Square columnSquare column Raw material flow passage and gas flow FIG. 9 shape shapepassage are formed in square column shape Variation 7 Cylindrical Shapeof cylinder Raw material flow passage is arranged in FIG. 10 taken alongchord gas flow passage Variation 8 Cylindrical Cylindrical First portionand second portion are FIG. 11, 12 arranged which are detachable eachother Variation 9 Cylindrical Cylindrical There is arranged with anangle α′ FIG. 13, 14 different from an angle α of Variation 8 Variation10 Cylindrical Cylindrical There is arranged with an angle (90 degrees)different from an angle α of FIG. 15, 16 Variation 8 Variation 11Cylindrical Cylindrical Raw material discharge pipe is added to FIG. 17,18 structure of Variation 8 Variation 12 Cylindrical Square column Gasflow passage is concave groove in a FIG. 19, 20, 21 shape (concavesimilar structure of Variation 8 groove) Variation 13 Cylindrical Squarecolumn Gas flow passage is concave groove in a FIG. 22, 23, 24 shape(concave similar structure of Variation 10 groove) Variation 14Cylindrical Cylindrical There are provided two raw material flow FIG. 25passages and one gas flow passage Variation 15 Cylindrical Square columnThere are provided two sets of flow FIG. 26 shape (concave passagesconsisting of one raw material groove) flow passage and one gas flowpassage

Second Embodiment

Hereinafter, an apparatus for producing nanofibers according to a secondembodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIG.27.

The apparatus for producing nanofibers 2 of the second embodiment (notillustrated) comprises the nozzle head 20U instead of the nozzle head20, however, other structure is the same as of the apparatus forproducing nanofibers 1 of the first embodiment in FIG. 1.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing the nozzle head of theapparatus for producing nanofibers 2 according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention. (a) is a front view, (b) is a cross sectionalview taken along the line A-A′, and (c) is a cross sectional view takenalong the line B-B′.

The nozzle head 20U of the apparatus for producing nanofibers 2 of thesecond embodiment comprises the raw material discharge surface 22 facingthe front side (front side of a paper of FIG. 27(a), left side of (b)and (c)), a connecting surface 24, and the gas discharge surface 23,which are connected in order in a downward direction as an absolutepositional relationship. The raw material discharge surface 22 and thegas discharge surface 23 are arranged in parallel each other, and thegas discharge surface 23 is arranged forwardly with a distance t awayfrom the front surface 21. The nozzle head 20U is provided with a backsurface (not illustrated) which is parallel with the front surface 21and faces backwardly (back side of a paper of FIG. 27(a), right side of(b) and (c)).

The nozzle head 20U comprises the raw material flow passage 25orthogonal to the raw material discharge surface 22, and the gas flowpassage 26 orthogonal to the gas discharge surface 23. The raw materialflow passage 25 is configured to linearly penetrate the raw materialdischarge surface 22 and a back surface. The gas flow passage 26 is alsoconfigured to linearly penetrate the gas discharge surface 23 and theback surface 27. The axis line P of the raw material flow passage 25 andthe axis line Q of the gas flow passage 26 are provided so as to be on aplane.

The connecting surface 24 and the gas discharge surface 23 are arrangedwith an angle β (0≤β<90°), and the connecting surface 24 faces anoblique upward direction. In order words, a surface direction R of theconnecting surface 24 and the axis line Q of the gas flow passage 26 hasan angle α (α=90−β). The nozzle head 20U is configured to intersect thesurface direction R and the axis line Q at a point in front of thenozzle head 20U with an angle α from a side direction (a front side to aback side of FIG. 27(b), (c)). The “side direction” is a directionparallel to the connecting surface 24 and the gas discharge surface 23.

According to the present embodiment, the raw material flow passage 25and the gas flow passage 26 have cylindrical spaces (cross sectionsorthogonal to the axis lines are entirely same), respectively.Alternatively, the raw material flow passage 25 and the gas flow passage26 may have the spaces in a square column shape. One part of the rawmaterial flow passage 25 contacts with the connecting surface 24, andalso one part of the gas flow passage 26 contacts with the connectingsurface 24. The connecting surface 24 is provided with a raw materialflow groove 24 a linearly connecting the raw material flow passage 25and the gas flow passage 26.

A description will be made of operation of the apparatus for producingnanofibers 1 and the nozzle head 20U according the present embodiments.The apparatus for producing nanofibers is supplied with the solvent fromthe solvent storage 11 and discharges from the opening of the rawmaterial flow passage 25 on the raw material discharge surface 22. Theapparatus for producing nanofibers is supplied with the high-pressuregas from the gas ejection unit 13 and ejects the same from the openingof the gas flow passage 26 on the gas discharge surface 23. The solventdischarged from the raw material flow passage 25 reaches at the openingof the gas flow passage 26 through the raw material flow groove 24 a,meets the gas flow ejected from the gas flow passage 26 with the angleα, and is carried out in the front direction while being elongated, sothat the nanofibers are manufactured.

According to the apparatus for producing nanofibers 2 and the nozzlehead 20U of the above-mentioned embodiment, the raw material flowpassage 25 is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the raw materialdischarge surface 22, and the gas flow passage 26 is arranged so as tobe orthogonal to the gas discharge surface 23. Thereby, by drilling, theraw material flow passage 25 can be formed on the raw material dischargesurface 22, and the gas flow passage 26 can be formed on the gasdischarge surface 23. The solvent discharged from the raw material flowpassage 25 directly meets the gas flow ejected from the gas flow passage26 through the raw material flow groove 24 a with the angle α. It can beachieved to manufacture precisely by drilling and to carry efficientlythe solvent on the gas flow.

Third Embodiment

Hereinafter, an apparatus for producing nanofibers according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIGS.28 to 38.

The apparatus for producing nanofibers 3 has a structure by using moltenraw material prepared by melting a solid raw material.

FIGS. 28 and 29 are a perspective view and a cross sectional viewshowing the apparatus for producing nanofibers according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagramshowing the nozzle head of the apparatus for producing nanofibers ofFIG. 28, (a) is a front view, and (b) is a cross sectional view takenalong the line A-A′. FIGS. 31 to 38 are explanatory diagrams showingstructures of the variations 1 to 8 of the nozzle head having the basicstructure of FIG. 30, and a front view and a cross sectional view areillustrated in each figure in the same manner of FIG. 30. Hereinafter,terms representing “front, back, left, right, up and down” may be used,which show a relative positional relationship of each component, not anabsolute relationship unless otherwise explicitly. In each figure, acomponent having same function has a same reference number and thedetailed explanation will be omitted.

The apparatus for producing nanofibers 3 according to the presentembodiment comprises a hopper 62 for feeding a pellet-shaped resin (agranular synthetic resin having a fine particle) to be a material forthe nanofibers into the apparatus for producing nanofibers 3, a heatingcylinder 63 for heating and melting the resin supplied from the hopper62, a heater 64 as a heating unit for heating the heating cylinder 63from outside, a screw 65 which is rotatably stored in the heatingcylinder 63 and functions as an extruding unit for moving the moltenresin to the end of the heating cylinder 63 by rotating, a motor 66 as adriving unit for rotating the screw 65 through a connecting unit 69 (notshown in detail), and a cylindrical nozzle head 70 which is provided atthe end of the heating cylinder 63. The nozzle head 70 is connected witha gas ejection unit (not illustrated) through a supply pipe 68. In thepresent embodiment, each structure such as the heating cylinder 63 andthe nozzle head 70 is mainly made of metal, however, other materials maybe applicable such as resin and glass in accordance with conditions ofmodes, such as kinds of resin as materials of the nanofibers ornanofiber products.

As shown in FIG. 30, in the nozzle head 70, there are connected in orderin the downward direction a front surface 71, facing the front side(front side of a paper of FIG. 30(a), left side of (b) and (c)), a rawmaterial discharge surface 72, and a gas discharge surface 73. The frontsurface 71 and the gas discharge surface 23 are arranged in paralleleach other, and the gas discharge surface 23 is arranged backwardly(right side of FIG. 30(b)) with a distance t away from the front surface71. The raw material discharge surface 72 and the gas discharge surface73 are arranged with an angle α (0<α≤90°), and the raw materialdischarge surface 72 faces an oblique downward direction. The nozzlehead 70 is also provided with the back surface (not illustrated) whichis parallel with the front surface 71 and faces backwardly.

The nozzle head 70 comprises a plurality of raw material flow passages75 orthogonal to the raw material discharge surface 72, and the gas flowpassage 76 orthogonal to the gas discharge surface 73. In the presentembodiment, the number of the raw material flow passage 75 and the gasflow passage 76 is same (seven), and the raw material flow passage 75and the gas flow passage 76 arranged in up and down direction correspondeach other. In other words, there are a plurality (seven) of flowpassage sets of one the raw material flow passage 75 and one gas flowpassage 76. These sets are arranged in one direction so that the rawmaterial flow passage 75 and the gas flow passage 76 become are arrangedin two line in parallel.

In the present embodiments, the raw material flow passage 75 has acylindrical space, and the gas flow passage 76 also has the cylindricalspace. The raw material discharge surface 72 has a width (a length in upand down direction of FIG. 30(a)) larger than a diameter of the rawmaterial flow passage 75 (about twice of the diameter), and the rawmaterial flow passage 75 is arranged at a center area in a widthdirection. The gas flow passage 76 is arranged with an interval from theraw material discharge surface 72. An axis line P of the raw materialflow passage 75 and an axis line Q of the gas flow passage 76 areprovided so as to be on a plane and the axis line P and the axis line Qare intersected at a point in front of the nozzle head 70 with an angleα.

A plurality of the raw material flow passages 75 communicates with theheating cylinder 63, and the molten resin raw material supplied rom theheating cylinder 63 flow a plurality of the raw material flow passages75 and is discharged from the opening of the plurality of raw materialflow passages 75 on the raw material discharge surface 72.

A plurality of the gas flow passage 76 communicates with a gas supplypipe 68 in the nozzle head 70, and high-pressure gas supplied from thegas ejection unit flows the gas supply pipe 68 and a plurality of gasflow passages 76 and is ejected from the opening of the plurality of thegas flow passages 76 on the gas discharge surface 73.

The such structure is only an example, and if there are provided the rawmaterial flow passage 75 and the gas flow passage 76 orthogonal to theraw material discharge surface 72 and the gas discharge surface 73 whichare arranged with an angle α (0<α≤90°), respectively, the stricture maybe optional within a purpose of the present invention.

A description will be made of operation of the apparatus for producingnanofibers 3 and the nozzle head 70 according the present embodiments.In the apparatus for producing nanofibers 3, the pellet-shaped rawmaterial (resin) fed into the hopper 62 is supplied and melted in theheating cylinder 63 heated by the heater 64 and delivered to a frontside of the heating cylinder 63 by the screw 65 rotated by the motor 66.The molten raw material (molten resin) arrived at the top of the heatingcylinder 63 is discharged from the plurality of raw material flowpassages 75 through the inside of the nozzle head 70. The high-pressuregas is ejected from the plurality of the gas flow passage 76 arranged inthe nozzle head 70. The molten raw material discharged from the rawmaterial flow passage 75 is meets the gas flow ejected from the gas flowpassage 76 with the angle α, and is carried out in the front directionwhile being elongated, so that the nanofibers are manufactured.

According to the apparatus for producing nanofibers 3 and the nozzlehead 70 of the above-mentioned embodiment, the raw material flow passage75 is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the raw material dischargesurface 72, and the gas flow passage 26 is arranged so as to beorthogonal to the gas discharge surface 73. Thereby, by drilling, theplurality of the raw material flow passage 75 can be formed on the rawmaterial discharge surface 72, and the plurality of the gas flow passage26 can be formed on the gas discharge surface 23. The molten rawmaterial discharged from the raw material flow passage 75 directly meetsthe gas flow ejected from the gas flow passage 76 with the angle α. Itcan be achieved to manufacture precisely by drilling and to carryefficiently the solvent on the gas flow. Since the apparatus comprises aplurality of the raw material flow passages 75 and the gas flow passages76, a large amount of nanofibers are manufactured efficiently in shorttime.

(Variation 1 of the Third Embodiment)

FIG. 31 shows a variation 1 of the nozzle head 70 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 3 (hereinafter referred to as a basicstructure of the nozzle head 70). The nozzle head 70A of the variation 1comprises the plurality of the gas flow passage 76 configured to have aspace in a square column shape which a cross section is rectangular. Asother structures, the nozzle head 70A of the variation 1 is the same asthe basic structure of the nozzle head 70.

(Variation 2 of the Third Embodiment)

FIG. 32 shows a variation 2 of the nozzle head 70 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 3. The nozzle head 70B of thevariation 2 comprises a slit-like shape gas flow passage 76 extending ina side direction (a left and right side of FIG. 32(a), a front and backside of a paper in (b)), and the gas flow passage 76 has a space in asquare column shape which a cross section is rectangular. As otherstructures, the nozzle head 70B of the variation 2 is the same as thebasic structure of the nozzle head 70. The nozzle head 70B of thevariation 2 comprises a set of flow passage of the slit-like shaped gasflow passage 76 extending in one direction and the plurality of the rawmaterial flow passages arranged in one direction. The nozzle head 70B ofthe variation 2 is configured to intersect the axis line P of the rawmaterial flow passage 75 and the axis line Q of the gas flow passage 76at a point in front of the nozzle head with an angle α from a sidedirection. The “side direction” is a direction parallel to the rawmaterial discharge surface 72 and the gas discharge surface 73.

(Variation 3 of the Third Embodiment)

FIG. 33 shows a variation 3 of the nozzle head 70 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 3. The nozzle head 70C of thevariation 3 comprises m raw material flow passages 75 and n gas flowpassages 76 (m≠n). The nozzle head 70C of the Variation 3 comprises sixthe raw material flow passages 75 and the gas flow passages 76, whichare arranged so that a position of the side direction (the left andright direction of FIG. 33(a), the front to back side of a paper in (b))of each raw material flow passage 75 becomes an intermediate position ofthe gas flow passage 76 adjacent thereto. As other structures, thenozzle head 70C of the variation 3 is the same as the basic structure ofthe nozzle head 70. The nozzle head 70C of the variation 3 comprises aset of the flow passage of m the raw material flow passages 75 and n thegas flow passages 76. The nozzle head 70C of the variation 3 isconfigured to intersect the axis line P of the raw material flow passage75 and the axis line Q of the gas flow passage 76 at a point in front ofthe nozzle head 70 with an angle α from a side direction.

(Variation 4 of the Third Embodiment)

FIG. 34 shows a variation 4 of the nozzle head 70 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 3. In the nozzle head 70D of thevariation 4, there are shown as a separate body a portion of the frontsurface 71, one portion having the raw material discharge surface 72 (afirst portion 70 a), and another portion having the gas dischargesurface 73 (a second portion 70 b). These portions may be connecteddetachably with a connection means, such as a belt and a screw notillustrated.

The first portion 70 a of the nozzle head 70D of the variation 4 isprepared by cutting the cylinder taken along a radius, and one sidecorresponding to the radius is chamfered. The front surface 71 and theraw material discharge surface 72 (chamfered portion) are connected inorder in a downward direction, and the plurality of raw material flowpassages 75 orthogonal to the plurality of the raw material dischargesurface 72 is provided. The second portion 70 b is prepared by cuttingthe cylinder taken along a radius and becomes the cylinder as a whole byconnecting the first portion 70 a. The gas discharge surface 73 isprovided at the entire front surface and the gas flow passage 76orthogonal to the gas discharge surface 73 is provided. In a nozzle head70D of the variation 4, the raw material discharge surface 72 and thegas discharge surface 73 are arranged with the angle α when the firstportion 70 a and the second portion 70 b are connected. The nozzle head70D of the variation 4 comprises these two portions may be connecteddetachably, and has the same structure as the nozzle head 70 of thebasic structure other than connecting each other.

(Variation 5 of the Third Embodiment)

FIG. 35 shows a variation 5 of the nozzle head 70 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 3. The nozzle head 70E of thevariation 5 comprises an annular front surface 71 of a cylindrical bodyfacing the front side (the front side of the paper of FIG. 35(a), leftside of (b)), the annular raw material discharge surface 72, and thecircular gas discharge surface 73 which are connected in order from theperiphery to the center and arranged concentrically. The front surface71 and the gas discharge surface 73 are arrange in parallel each other,and the gas discharge surface 73 is arranged backwardly (FIG. 30(b))with a distance t away from the front surface 21. The raw materialdischarge surface 72 and the gas discharge surface 73 are arranged withan angle α (0<α≤90°), and the raw material discharge surface 72 istapered and faces inwardly. The nozzle head 70E of the variation 5 isalso provided with the back surface (not illustrated) which is parallelwith the front surface 71 and faces backwardly.

The nozzle head 70E of the variation 5 comprises a plurality of the rawmaterial flow passage 75 which are orthogonal to the raw materialdischarge surface 72 and arranged at an equal interval in acircumferential direction, and the gas flow passage 76 orthogonal to acenter of the gas discharge surface 73. The nozzle head 70E of thevariation 5 comprises the plurality of (eight) raw material flowpassages 75 are arranged around the gas flow passage 76. The nozzle head70E of the variation 5 has a set of flow passage of the gas flow passage76 and the plurality of the raw material flow passages 75 arranged roundthe gas flow passage 76.

In the nozzle head 70E of the variation 5, the raw material flow passage75 has a cylindrical space and the gas flow passage 76 also has acylindrical space. The raw material discharge surface 72 has a width (alength in a radius direction) same as that of a diameter of the rawmaterial flow passage 75. The gas flow passage 76 is arranged with aninterval from the raw material discharge surface 72. The axis line P ofthe raw material flow passage 75 and an axis line Q of the gas flowpassage 76 are intersected at a point in front of the nozzle head 70Bwith an angle α.

(Variation 6 of the Third Embodiment)

FIG. 36 shows a variation 6 of the nozzle head 70 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 3. The nozzle head 70F of thevariation 6 comprises a plurality of raw material discharge pipes 79which projects from the raw material discharge surface 72 and theplurality of the raw material flow passages 75 are arranged insidethereof. Other structure of the nozzle head 70F of the variation 6 isthe same as the nozzle head 70E of the variation 5.

(Variation 7 of the Third Embodiment)

FIG. 37 shows a variation 7 of the nozzle head 70 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 3. The nozzle head 70G of thevariation 7 comprises an annular front surface 71 of a cylindrical bodyfacing the front side (the front side of the paper of FIG. 37(a), leftside of (b)), the annular raw material discharge surface 72, and thecircular gas discharge surface 73 which are connected in order from theperiphery to the center and arranged concentrically. The front surface71 and the gas discharge surface 73 are arrange in parallel each other,and the gas discharge surface 73 is arranged backwardly (FIG. 30(b))with a distance t away from the front surface 21. The raw materialdischarge surface 72 and the gas discharge surface 73 are arranged withan angle α (0<α≤90°), and an the raw material discharge surface 72 istapered and faces inwardly. The nozzle head 70G of the variation 7 isalso provided with the back surface (not illustrated) which is parallelwith the front surface 71 and faces backwardly.

The nozzle head 70G of the variation 7 comprises a plurality of the rawmaterial flow passage 75 which are orthogonal to the raw materialdischarge surface 72 and arranged at an equal interval in acircumferential direction, and the plurality of the gas flow passages 76which are orthogonal to the gas discharge surface 73 and arranged at anequal interval in a circumferential direction. The nozzle head 70G ofthe variation 7 comprises the plurality of (eight) raw material flowpassages 75 and the gas flow passages 76, respectively. The nozzle head70G of the variation 7 has eight sets of flow passage of one rawmaterial flow passages 75 and one gas flow passage 76 correspondingthereto. A plurality of flow passage sets are arranged annularly so thatthe raw material flow passage 75 and the gas flow passage 76 arearranged on the circumference of two circles which become concentric.

In the nozzle head 70G of the variation 7, the raw material flow passage75 has a cylindrical space and the gas flow passage 76 also has acylindrical space. The raw material discharge surface 72 has a width (alength in a radius direction) larger (about two times) than the rawmaterial flow passage 75. The plurality of the gas flow passages 76 arearranged with contacting with the raw material discharge surface 72,respectively. The axis line P of the raw material flow passage 75 and anaxis line Q of the gas flow passage 76 are intersected at a point infront of the nozzle head 70G with an angle α.

(Variation 8 of the Third Embodiment)

FIG. 38 shows a variation 8 of the nozzle head 70 of the above-mentionedapparatus for producing nanofibers 3. In the nozzle head 70H of thevariation 8, the plurality of the gas flow passages 76 are configured tohave a space in a square column shape which a cross section isrectangular, and are arranged with an interval from the raw materialdischarge surface 72. As other structures, the nozzle head 70H of thevariation 8 is the same as that of the nozzle head 70G of the variation7.

In table 2, an outline of the basic structure and the structures of thevariations 1 to 8 of the nozzle head 70 according to the Embodiment 3.

TABLE 2 Shape of 3rd Raw material Shape of gas Difference of Variationfrom Embodiment flow passage flow passage basic structure FIGURE BasicStructure Cylindrical (7) Cylindrical (7) A plurality of raw materialflow passage and a FIG. 30 plurality of gas flow passage are arranged ontwo line in parallel Variation 1 Cylindrical (7) Square column Gas flowpassage is formed in square column FIG. 31 shape (7) shape Variation 2Cylindrical (7) Slit-type shape (1) Gas flow passage is formed inslit-type shape FIG. 32 Variation 3 Cylindrical (6) Cylindrical (7) Rawmaterial flow passage and gas flow passage FIG. 33 are arranged shiftedin side direction Variation 4 Cylindrical (7) Cylindrical (7) Firstportion and second portion are arranged FIG. 34 which are detachableeach other Variation 5 Cylindrical (8) Cylindrical (1) A plurality ofraw material flow passages are FIG. 35 arranged in a circumferentialdirection so as to surround one gas flow passage Variation 6 Cylindrical(8) Cylindrical (1) Raw material discharge pipe is added to FIG. 36structure of Variation 5 Variation 7 Cylindrical (8) Cylindrical (8) Aplurality of raw material flow passages and a FIG. 37 plurality of gasflow passages are arranged in a circumferential direction Variation 8Cylindrical (8) Square column Gas flow passage is formed in squarecolumn FIG. 38 shape (8) shape in a structure of variation 7(1)(6)(7)(8): number of flow passage

Though description is made of the embodiments of the present inventionin detail, the present invention is not limited to the prescribedembodiments, and various modifications may be possible within a scope ofthe present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the horizontal apparatus forproducing nanofibers is disclosed which the molten resin and the gasejection hole are provided in a horizontal direction, however it is notlimited to, and there is no problem to arrange the vertical apparatusand the nozzle head in the downward direction. Rather, such verticalapparatus is capable of efficiently preventing influence by the gravity.

In each embodiment and variation, positions of the raw material flowpassage and the gas flow passage may be replaced each other.Specifically, in the nozzle head 20 of the embodiment 1, the position ofthe raw material discharge surface 22 may be replaced with the positionof the gas discharge surface 23, the raw material discharge surface 22and the front surface 21 are arranged in parallel, the gas dischargesurface 23 is arranged with an angle α toward the raw material dischargesurface 22. The raw material discharge surface 22 and the gas dischargesurface 23 may be provided with the raw material flow passage 25 and thegas flow passage 26, respectively. The structure is not limited to anyarrangement shown in figures of each embodiment. For example, thefigures of each embodiment may be upside down and the raw material flowpassage (the raw material discharge surface) and the gas flow passage(the gas discharge surface) may be replaced. Additionally, by rotatingby 90° degrees, the raw material flow passage (the raw materialdischarge surface) and the gas flow passage (the gas discharge surface)may be arranged in horizontal direction.

The extruding means is described as the screw, an intermittent extrusionwith a piston by supplying solution sequentially such as a die castingmay be applicable.

The apparatus for producing nanofibers and the nozzle head according tothe present invention preferably comprise a raw material temperaturecontrol function (not illustrated) in accordance with conditions of theliquid raw material and production of the nanofibers.

The apparatus for producing nanofibers and the nozzle head according tothe present invention preferably comprises a gas temperature controlfunction (not illustrated) for controlling a temperature of the gas atthe gas exit.

1. An apparatus for producing nanofibers comprising a raw materialdischarge surface on which a raw material flow passage for discharging aliquid raw material is arranged, and a gas discharge surface which isarranged with an angle α (0<α≤90°) toward said raw material dischargesurface and on which a gas flow passage for ejecting gas is arranged,wherein said raw material flow passage is orthogonal to said rawmaterial discharge surface, said gas flow passage is orthogonal to saidgas discharge surface, and said raw material flow passage and said gasflow passage are arranged so that said liquid raw material dischargedfrom said raw material flow passage meets gas ejected from said gas flowpassage.
 2. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 1comprising one or more flow passage sat of said one raw material flowpassage and said one gas flow passage.
 3. An apparatus for producingnanofibers claimed in claim 2 wherein a plurality of flow passage setsare provided and these flow passage sets are arranged in one directionso that said raw material flow passage and said gas flow passage arearranged on two linear lines parallel each other.
 4. An apparatus forproducing nanofibers claimed in claim 2 wherein a plurality of flowpassage sets are provided and the plurality of flow passage sets arearranged annularly so that said raw material flow passage and said gasflow passage are arranged on the circumference of two circles whichbecome concentric.
 5. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed inclaim 1 wherein an axis line of said raw material flow passage and anaxis line of said gas flow passage are provided on a plane.
 6. Anapparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 1 comprising one ormore flow passage sets of a plurality of said raw material flow passageand said gas flow passage.
 7. An apparatus for producing nanofibersclaimed in claim 6 wherein said flow passage set comprises said gas flowpassage having a slit-like shape and extending in one direction, andsaid plurality of raw material flow passages arranged in said onedirection.
 8. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 6wherein said flow passage set comprises said gas flow passage and aplurality of said raw material flow passage arranged around said gasflow passage.
 9. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim1 wherein a discharge pipe projecting from said raw material dischargesurface is provided and said raw material flow passage is arrangedinside thereof.
 10. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed inclaim 1 wherein a discharge pipe projecting from said gas dischargesurface is provided and said gas flow passage is arranged insidethereof.
 11. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 1comprising a first portion having said raw material discharge surface,and a second portion having said gas discharge surface, wherein saidfirst portion and said second portion are connected detachably.
 12. Anapparatus for producing nanofibers comprising a raw material dischargesurface on which a raw material flow passage for discharging a liquidraw material is arranged, a gas discharge surface which is arrangeddownwardly from said raw material discharge surface and on which a gasflow passage for ejecting gas is arranged, a connecting surface which isconnected with said raw material discharge surface and said gasdischarge surface, and is arranged with an angle β (0≤β<90°) toward saidraw material discharge surface, wherein said raw material flow passageis orthogonal to said raw material discharge surface, said gas flowpassage is orthogonal to said gas discharge surface, an opening of saidgas flow passage contacts with said connecting surface, and said rawmaterial flow passage and said gas flow passage are arranged so thatsaid liquid raw material discharged from said raw material flow passagereaches to the opening of said gas flow passage along said connectingsurface.
 13. A nozzle head used for an apparatus for producingnanofibers comprising: a raw material discharge surface on which a rawmaterial flow passage for discharging a liquid raw material is arranged,and a gas discharge surface which is arranged with an angle α (0<α≤90°)toward said raw material discharge surface and on which a gas flowpassage for ejecting gas is arranged, wherein said raw material flowpassage is orthogonal to said raw material discharge surface, said gasflow passage is orthogonal to said gas discharge surface, and said rawmaterial flow passage and said gas flow passage are arranged so thatsaid liquid raw material discharged from said raw material flow passagemeets gas ejected from said gas flow passage.
 14. A nozzle head used foran apparatus for producing nanofibers comprising: a raw materialdischarge surface on which a raw material flow passage for discharging aliquid raw material is arranged, a gas discharge surface which isarranged downwardly from said raw material discharge surface, and onwhich a gas flow passage for ejecting gas is arranged, a connectingsurface which is connected with said raw material discharge surface andsaid gas discharge surface, and is arranged with an angle β (0≤β<90°)toward said raw material discharge surface, wherein said raw materialflow passage is orthogonal to said raw material discharge surface, saidgas flow passage is orthogonal to said gas discharge surface, an openingof said gas flow passage contacts with said connecting surface, and saidraw material flow passage and said gas flow passage are arranged so thatsaid liquid raw material discharged from said raw material flow passagereaches to the opening of said gas flow passage along said connectingsurface.